Dispensing device



Sept. 29, 1936. F. W. ETTER DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Deo. 27, 1935 Patented Sept. 29, 1936 UNITED srATEs PATENT OFFICE 5 Claims.

My invention 'relates to dispensing devices and `more particularly to devices for dispensing toothpowder for personal use. I

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of a simple. inexpensive and practical device for quickly and efilclently placing a desired amount of tooth-powder on a tooth-brush with minimum waste of powder and with minimum muss accompanying this waste.

Another object is the provision of a powder dispensing device which is adapted to accommodate a fresh container of powder as one becomes exhausted all with minimum effort and inconvenience.

y Another object of the invention is the provision of a dispensing device of the character described which readily lends itself to handling and packing -for distribution and convenient mounting or positioning -for use.

Other objects will be obvious in part and in part will be pointed out hereinafter.

In theaccornpanying drawing iFigure 1 is a front elevation view of my. dispensing device showing a tooth-brush in position to receive powder, and

Figure 2 isa side elevation of the device sho in Figure l.

Like reference characters denote like parts in the several views of the drawing.

As conducive to a clearer understanding of certain features of my invention it may be noted at this point that at the present time substantia'lly all of the dentifrices consumed by the buying public are in the form of various pastes. Of these there are a host on the market. Y

. While the tooth-powders are known and widely recommended by the dental profession, their use is almost negligible in proportion to that of the various tooth-pastes. This general preference of a tooth-paste to a tooth-powder does not result from any superiority of the pastes in matters of taste, eillcacy or economy but largely results from the relatively greater convenience attendant their use. f

The successful application of tooth-powder to a brush requires a clear eye and a steady hand in addition tb a certain amount of skill. e, Ordinarily greater cost and lower eiilciency as a cleansing agent.

Accordingly, one of the outstanding objects of my invention is the provision of a simple, inex- 'pensive and thoroughly reliable devicev for dis- 5v pensing tooth-powder for personal use in an efilcient and direct manner requiring a minimum of skill and assuring a minimum loss of powder and a minimum muss attendant its use.

Referring now more particularly to the prac- 10 tice of my invention, attention is directed to the drawing whereiif a tooth-powder container I0, illustratively in the form of a glass bottle having "a threaded neck portion I0a. and a sloping wall portion I'Ob, is mounted in an inverted vertical 15V` position with its neck portion extending downwardly. The container I0 ispreferably 'mai'n tained in the inverted position by sheet metal mounting means II, illustratively secured to backing I2, conveniently secured to a wall I3 by means of a suitable fastening device generally indicated at I4.

The mounting means is secured to backing I2 in any suitable manner as by screws I5.

Sheet metal mounting means IIIis preferably. fashioned of a bright corrosion resistant metal 25 which is attractive to the eye, suchsas rust'le'ss iron or steel. Ihe mounting means preferably includes arm portions IIa and IIb (see Figure 1) which extend outwardly from the backing I2 in a curved formation so as to securely embrace the cylindrical side-walls I0c of the container and maintain the container in a desired position. The lower portions oi' side-arms IIa and IIe, as seen in the drawing, are curved downwardly and inwardly, as generally indicated at Ilc and iid, to form a seat to accommodate the sloping walls I0b of the container.

A powder present in container Il) having an upper level, as indicated at I8, is released from 40 the container by actuation of valve assembly I1- which conveniently threadedly engages the container neck IIJd. The valve assembly preferably includes a measuring chamber, generally indicated at Ila, for accommodating a predetermined amount of powder and an actuating stem I'Ib which upon. application of thumb pressure, for example, releases the predetermined quantity of powder from the container, the powder falling in a downwardly direction, as seen in the drawing, through a suitable outlet (not shown) Powder released from container I 0 by actuation of valye Il falls upon a tooth-brush I8 maintained in a proper position beneath the outlet of valve il. The proper positioning of brush i8 is 55 comprises a horizontal bed portion I If projecting downwardly from backing I2 in a horizontal direction, as seen in Figure 2 of the drawing, with parallel upturned side-wall portions IIg and Hh (see Figure 1). The guide and supporting structure assures the maintenance of brush I8 in a desired position beneath the outlet of valve Il. The brush need merely be placed in the brush guide and the valve actuated by a depression of the stem provided. No skill is required in applying powder to the brush. Lateral movement of the brush is prevented by the side-wall portions of the guide. Where desired excessive longitudinal movement of the brush is prevented by a stop conveniently formed by a bent end portion IIk of the support side-wall I Ih'.

By assuring accurate positioning of brush I8 immediately beneath the outlet of valve II, it will be seen that the powder released from the container falls entirely on the brush. As a result there is a minimum waste of powder and a minimum resultant disorder accompanying its use.

Thus it will be seen that there has been provided in this invention a tooth-powder dispensing device in which the various objects hereinbefore stated are achieved together with numervous accompanying practical advantages. It will be4 seen that the apparatus is simple, eicient, pleasing to the eye and well calculated to assure eicient use of the inexpensive dentifrice toothpowder. It will be seen that the device readily lends itself to the accommodation of fresh containers of powder with maximum ease and mini mum effort in a simple direct manner.

While as illustrative of the practice of my invention a valve assembly is supplied independent of powder container, it will be understood that where desired the container may come equipped with a suitable valve. Likewise, if desired the valve may be made integral with the mounting means.

Similarly, while the brush guide and, support are preferably fashioned as a portion of the member supporting the powder container, it will be understood that where desired an individual guide member may be employed. Furthermore, it will be understood that in the interest of economy in production and simplicity in fabrication, the metal mounting comprising the support for the powder container and the brush guide may be used without benefit of a special backing member in which case the metal mounting is provided with suitable means for securing it to a wall for support.

As many possible embodiments may be made of /my invention and asmany changes may be made in the embodiment hereinbefore set forth it will be understood that all matter described herein,

or shown in the accompanying drawing, is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In a tooth-powder dispensing device of the character described, in combination, a powder container having a neck portion, a sheet-metal wall mounting embracing and maintaining said container in an inverted vertical position, valve means engaging the neck portion of said container, and a sheet metal brush guide portion of said wall mounting extending beneath the outlet 4 of said valve and in approximate register therewith whereby powder in desired amounts is accurately released onto a brush positioned in said guide.

2. In a tooth-powder dispensing device of the character described, in combination, a powder container having a neck portion, valve means threadedly engaging the neck portion of said container, sheet metal means having arm portions embracing and maintaining said container in an inverted position for dispensing powder, and sheet metal brush guide means comprising an extension of said mounting means for positioning a tooth-brush immediately beneath the out- =1et of said valve means whereby powder in desired amounts is accurately released onto a brush positioned in said guide means.

3. In a tooth-powder dispensing device of the character described, in combination, a-powder jar having a threaded neck portion, valve means engaging said neck portion, sheet metal means having fiexedspring-like arm portions embracing and maintaining said jar in a vertical position for dispensing powder in a downwardly direction in accordance with the actuation of said valve means, and brush guide means secured to said .mounting for positioning a tooth-brush immediately beneath the said valve means whereby powder in desired amount is dispensed onto a brush positioned in said guide means.

4. In a device of the character described, a sheet metal mounting comprising, in combination, a portion including spring-like arms for embracing and maintaining a powder container in an inverted vertical position, and a guideportion for positioning and maintaining a tooth brush immediately beneath a powder container positioned in said first-mentioned portion.

5. In a device of the character described, a sheet metal mounting comprising in combination, a back portion securable to a wall, side-arm portions extending outwardly therefrom with inwardly extending lower edges-adapted to embrace and support a powder container, and a U- shaped guide portion extending outwardly from the lower part of said back portion for positioning andl maintaining a tooth brush immediately beneath a powder container mounted in the device.

FRANK W. ETTER. 

